The reason Newcastle United's Callum Wilson had to be left out of Eddie Howe's starting XI

Wilson came off the bench in yesterday’s 2-1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers. Alexander Isak, recalled to the team, opened the scoring at St James’ Park, but his first-half strike was cancelled out by a second-half goal from Hwang Hee-Chan.

Miguel Almiron, Wilson’s fellow substitute, scored a 79th-minute winner – and the result lifted the club, the club’s first win in six Premier League games, up to fifth place in the table.

Howe – who had made five changes to his team – was asked after the game why Wilson had been left out of the starting XI.

“Callum's had a difficult week,” said United’s head coach. “He hasn't trained all week, so Callum did really well to put himself on the pitch today – and I was delighted with him.”

Key sub

Asked why Wilson hadn’t trained, Howe said: “A little bit of illness with Callum, nothing serious, but it was a difficult week for him, as I said. He missed training from very early in the week. He did very, very well to make himself available today, and it’s not lost on me, because he was a key sub.

“He wasn't 100% to take to the pitch, but he did that for the cause.”

Meanwhile, Wolves head coach Julen Lopetegui felt that his team should have had a penalty when Raul Jimenez went down in the box after being challenged by United goalkeeper Nick Pope.

"For me, we should have had a penalty,” said Lopetegui. “We are very unlucky with the referee.”